-Last week we had our very first meeting of the book club my friend Valerie started. It turned out exactly how she envisioned it: great food, great company, and great conversation. I loved talking about books again. It’s been ages since I’ve been in a lit class and this was even better because everyone wanted to be there and no one was graded. Possibly my favorite thing that happened that night, though, was when I presented her with this thrifted monogrammed “Val” mug (with English flowers, no less!) and she was so excited she immediately dumped the contents of the mug she was holding into this new cup and carried on the conversation as if nothing had happened. Badass.

-Speaking of Doomsday Preppers, we had a few people over last week to watch it and make snarky comments. It’s what we do. Riffing comes so naturally to my group of friends that we even find ourselves riffing real life as it unfolds around us. When my friend Justin arrived for the party, though, he came prepared with apocalypse snacks (air-popped corn with nutritional yeast), preserved supplies (a jar of homemade pickled daikon), and a gas mask.

-We’ve been spending more time outside and I’m thrilled to notice my garden has come through the winter(ish) fantastically! My parsley had a bunch of babies, the catnip is going strong, my onion sets look good, the iris is booming, and I even found a poppy plant that somehow stubbornly survived the garden apocalypse that was Anthony and his shovel. Hooray! The plans are, as always, a bigger and better garden this year.

Would I love to write a book someday? Yes! Do I think it’s at all likely? No! The kinds of books I’d be interested in writing involve researching ideas around a theme–basically what I’m doing here, except with a tighter focus and more in-depth research. I don’t think it’s very likely that some publisher is going to pluck me out of the blue and offer me a book deal based on my little (big?) blog, but that’s okay. I’m working with some creative friends right now to publish my own eBooks and PDFs as a way to disseminate my ideas to anyone with a PayPal account and a few bucks to spare. Coming soon to an internet near you.

Do you have a question for me? I’d love to answer it! You can leave your question in the comments, @-reply me on twitter, email it to me at alittlebigblog@gmail.com or send me a messenger pigeon. Don’t do the last one, though. My cat will eat it.

When we first moved into our house when I was 14, part of the exterior wall had been repaired (read: left open for many months before being fixed) and a family of wasps moved in. Well, when the wall was fixed, their only way out was up through the floorboards in my bedroom. For about 8 months, I had 5-8 wasps in my room DAILY. It became rote for me to get my stepdad, he’d fetch a jar or a box, herd them into it, and take them outside.Tristina recently posted..Outwardly professional. Inwardly flailing about like a monkey.

i’m torn about Doomsday Preppers. On one hand, I want to watch and make fun of it. on the other, I’m scared I’ll watch it and panic and feel woefully unprepared.Mayor Gia recently posted..Animals Giving Awards, Part II